Pacifica Quartet with the Colorado Children's Chorale

Friends of Chamber Music opens its 2025–26 season with a powerful performance featuring the GRAMMY award-winning Pacifica Quartet and the Colorado Children’s Chorale with the premiere of "Pitch In."

Based on a poem by Sylvia Dianne Beverly (“Lady Di”) and written by composer James Lee III "Pitch In" is a stirring musical call to action on the issues of childhood poverty and hunger. Through this work Lee gives voice to a critical social concern while blending the artistry of two top-tier ensembles. The program also includes Samuel Barber’s Quartet in B Minor Op. 11 and Beethoven’s Quartet in B-flat Major Op. 130.

September is Hunger Awareness Month and FCM is proud to spotlight the work of Food for Thought a Denver-based all-volunteer organization working to eliminate childhood hunger in public schools. For many low-income students Friday’s school lunch may be the last full meal they receive until Monday. Each week Food for Thought mobilizes hundreds of volunteers to pack and deliver “PowerSacks”—bags of weekend food—for students and their families. The organization currently serves 75 schools across the Denver metro area.

About the Pacifica Quartet: With a career spanning more than three decades the multiple Grammy Award-winning Pacifica Quartet has achieved international recognition as one of the finest chamber ensembles performing today. Having served as quartet-in-residence at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music for the past decade the Quartet also leads the Center for Advanced Quartet Studies at the Aspen Music Festival and School and was previously the quartet-in-residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 2021 the Pacifica Quartet received a second Grammy Award for Contemporary Voices an exploration of music by three Pulitzer Prize-winning composers: Shulamit Ran Jennifer Higdon and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich.

About the Colorado Children’s Chorale: Since 1974 the Colorado Children’s Chorale has brought its artistry and charm to audiences throughout the world. With a diverse repertoire ranging from fully-staged opera and musical theater to standard choral compositions in classical folk and popular traditions the Chorale performs with an innovative stage presentation and a unique theatrical spirit.

About Friends of Chamber Music: Friends of Chamber Music is the premier presenter of chamber music in the Denver area. For more than 70 years FCM has presented an annual series of concerts including string quartets piano ensembles soloists and mixed ensembles. Friends of Chamber Music is also committed to music education for youth engaging both local and visiting artists to provide concerts residencies and master classes at Denver area schools. Visit www.friendsofchambermusic.com for more information.

Host or Publisher Friends of Chamber Music